Electrical connection means



July 18, 1939. l HA A. DOUGLAS 2,166,346

ELECTRIAL CONNECTION MEANS Filed July 17, 1955 l .l r/ 15,115.2 v

l Hnxsxsj A Douslab l u VLM-ro Tg WLWMMWMW Patented July 18, 1939 PATENT OFFICE ELECTRICAL comemos mms Harry A. Douglas, Bronson,l Mich., assignor to Kingston Products Corporation, aporporation o! Indiana Application July 17, 1935, Serial No. 31,808 9 claims. (ci. 17a-32s) My invention relates to electrical connection means, and more particularly to means for receiving conductor terminals of the snap type, and the principal object of my invention is to provide new and improved electrical connection means of these types. In the drawing accompanying this specication and forming a partof this" application, I have shown for purposes of illustration, several forms which my invention may assume. In this drawing:

Figure ljis a perspective view of one embodiment of my invention,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1, with a plug conductor terminal added,

Figure 3l is a perspective view of another embodiment'of my invention,

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional embodiment shown in Figure 3,

view of the Figure 5 is a perspective view of another einbodiment of my invention, and

Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the embodiment shown in Figure 5.

Referring in detail to Figures land 2 of the drawing, there is here shown a terminal post I0 mounted on a base II, fragmentarily shown. The terminal post I0 comprises 'a body portion I2 formed of a single piece of sheet metal stock bent into generally S-shape. rI he S-shaped body portion I2 comprises, as viewed in Figures 1 and 2, two spaced generally horizontal walls i3, Il integrally joined at one end by a vertical wall I5, the lower horizontal wall, I 4, being spaced from another horizontal wall or foot, I6, below the horizontal wall I4, and integrally connected theretoby a vertical wall I1. The uppermost horizontal wall, i3, is provided with a recess Il here shown as in the form oi' a lportion of a cylindrical surface formed by pressing the wall I3 upward locally. The surface of the recess I8 may be considered as forming a lateral extension of a margin of an aperture I9 formed in the uppermost vertical wall I5.

The lower spaced horizontal walls, I4.' It, are provided with alined circular apertures 2l, 2 I, the aperture 2| in the wall Il being somewhat larger than the aperture 20 in the wall Il. 4The axis of I the apertures 2l, 2l approximately intersects the axis of the aperture I9 an'd recess Il. y ,Seated upon the margin of the lower aperture 2I`is a washer 22, here shown as having its central portion 23 dished downwardly toward a central aperture 24 in the washer. The downwardly dished portion 23 of the washer 22 serves `to center the washer with respect to the margin of the aperture surface of the recess Il parts of the plug con- 2 I. The washer 22 serves as` an abutment for one end of a helical spring 25, the other end of which bears against a flange 26v forming part of a biasing means 21 cooperable with a plug conductor 28 insertable in the recess I8 and aperture I9.

The biasing means 21 is here shown as provided with a dome-shaped 'head 29, tting slidably through the aperture 20 in the horizontal wall I4, a cylindrical shank 30 disposed within the helical spring 2li, and the collar or ilange. 26 intermediate the head 29 and the end of the shank 30. The dome 28 projects above the upper surface of the horizontal wall I4. The length of the shank 30 is here shown as such that the lower end of the shank is somewhat below the upper level of the rim of the washer 22. With the rim of the washer 22 disposed concentrically with the aperture 2l in the wall or foot 1 6 of the terminalpost, the aperture 24 in the washer is in alinement with the shank 30 of the biasing means 21, but somewhat spaced therefrom.

The foot I8 may be provided with an aperture 3| through which a screw 32 or any other suitable fastening means may be disposed to fasten the vent the foot l0 of the terminal post Il) from I turning about the fastening means 32, the foot I6 may have a portion `33 struck downwardly therefrom and fitting in a recess 34 in the upper face of the base Il.

vThe terminal post I6, illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, cooperates with the plug conductor terminal 28 as follows. The plug conductor terminal 28 is here shown as having a generally cylindrical portion II and a frustro.conical end 38, the cylindrical portion 35 being provided with an annular furrow 31. The plug conductor terminal 28 may be fastened to a conductor 3B disposed therein, by swedging, as indicated by swedge indentations 39. When the plug conductor terminal 28 is alined withthe mouth of the recess I8 and moved toward the right as viewed in Figure 2, the frustro-conical end .causes the dome-shaped portion 29 of`the biasing means 21 to be cammed downwardly against the bias of the spring` 25.

shaped portion 29l of the biasing means 21 to snap into the annular furrow 31 of the plug conductor terminal 28. When the dome 29 of the biasing means is in engagement with the furrow 31, the collar 28 is desirably not' in engagement with the lower" side of the horizontal wall Il, S0 that the spring 25 is free to cause the biasing means 21 to firmly press into engagement with a brought to the position shown inFlgure 2 by'a combined motion of translationl and rotation, that is, the biasing means 2'I may be held at an angle to the vertical, as viewed* in Figure 2, with the dome-shaped portion 29 about to be inserted through the lower entrance of the aperture 20 in the horizontal wall I4, and the biasing means then swung into the position shown in Figure 2,

-it being assumed that the spring has been previously assembled with the shank 3l of the biasing means. When the biasing means 21 and the spring 25 are in the position shown in Figure 2, the spring may be held compressed so that the washer 22 can then be slid underneath the end of the shank 20 and under the lower end of the l spring 25 to the position in which the rim of the washer 22 is concentric with the margin of the aperture 2I in the foot I i. The spring 25 may then be released so that its lower end abuts the top of the washer 22. The parts are-then held assembled with the body of the post I0. against unintentional disassembly.

Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, which show another embodiment of my invention, a terminal post, 40, here shown is adapted for the reception of at least two plug conductor terminals. (In Figures 3 and 4 parts analogous to the parts of Figures 1 and 2 are designated with the same reference numerals with the suiiix a.) To this end a vertical wall I5a is made of greater width than the wall I5 of Figures l l d 2 and provided with two apertures Isa. The v rtical wall Ita is integral with a generally horizontal wall |30., which is here shown as shaped to4form channel portions, the inside surfaces Ila of which are arcuate in cross-section and may be considered as forming extensions of the upper portions of the apertures Iso. As in the case of the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, the body portion I2a of the'post 4l further comprises a channel-shaped portion having spaced horizontal walls I4a, Ita integrally joined bv a vertical wall Ila, the wall lia serving as a foot for the terminal post. In the instance illustrated, the horizontal wall Ila has an apertured extension 4I which may be'fastened to a base I Ia in a manner already described in connection with Figures 1 and 2. l

The post 4l is provided with two biasing means 21a, each biasing` means 21a havingf a domeshaped portion 29a, a shank 30a, and a collar 26a, the dome-shaped portions 29a of the biasing means being adapted to extend 'through circular apertures 20a in the horizontal wall I4a of the terminal post, so positioned that the domes 22a of the biasingmeans 21a will be cooperable with plug conductor termin ls disposed in the recesses Ila of the channels of the wall Ila. l

In Vthe embodiment of Figures 3 and 4 the foot Ita of the terminal post 40 is provided with circular apertures 42 intoyhich the ends of the shanks a of the biasing means are adapted to slidably nt. The shanks a of the biasing means 21a are surrounded by helical springs 25a, the upper ends o! which engage the collars 24a and the lother ends of which engage the upper surface of the foot IGa.

' The proportion of the parts is such that when the springs Ila bias the collars oi' the biasing means against the lower side of the horizontal wall I4a, the lower ends of the Shanks are slightly below the margins of the apertures 42 in the foot IBa.

The manner in which the terminal post cooperlates with plug conductor terminals will be understood from what has been stated in connection with Figures 1 and 2.

In assembling or disassembling the biasing means 21a from the body portion I2a of the terminal post40, the horizontal walls I4a, I6a ofthe channel-shaped part of the bodyiportion |2a may be'slightly sprung apart, so that the lower end of the shank 30a of the biasing means 21a will clear the upper margin of the aperture 42 in the foot IEa of the terminal post, lwhereupon the biasing means 27a, along with the spring 25a may be disassembled from or assembled with the body portion` I2a, by relative motions, with respect to the body portion of theterminal post, such as have already been described in connection with Figures l and 2.

Referring now to Figures 5 and 6, in which parts analogous to those in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 are designated with the same reference numerals with the suillx b, these figures show another embodiment of my invention, `a terminal post 43 here shown having a body portion I2b comprising a channel-shaped part having spaced horizontal walls I4b, ISb, integrally joined by a vertical wall IIb. The horizontal wall I4b is provided with an aperture Zlib adapted to receive the dome-shaped portion 29h of a biasing means 2lb identical with the biasing means 21a of Figures 3 and 4, 'and the wall or foot ISb is provided with an aperture 42h adapted-to slidably receive the end of the shank IIIb of the biasing means. A spring 2517 is also provided for the biasing means 2lb. The body portion |2b is further provided withva-vertical wall l5b, integral with the horizontal Wall I4b and extending therefrom somewhat closer tol the axis of the biasing means 2lb than the walls I5 and I5a with respect to the biasing means 21 and 2`Ia. The vertical wall I 5b has an aperture |917, the axis of which is in alinement with and at right angles tothe axis of the biasing means 2lb. The vertical wall ISb is here shown as provided with a lateral extending flange IIb, Aarcuate in cross- 'section, the inner surface IIb of which forms an extension ofthe upper portion of the aperture IIb. The iiange IIb may be formed by metal drawn out in forming the aperture lsb'.

' The operation of the embodiment of Figures 5 and- 6 will be apparent from what has already been stated in connection with Figures 1 through 4.

Terminal posts'of the form of Figures 1, 2, 5, and 6- may also be constructed to receive more than one plug conductor terminal, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4. f

While the plug conductor terminal has been described as insertable into the terminal vposts I0, 4l, and 42 from the lett hand side thereof, as viewed in Figures 2, 4, and 6, it will be apparent that the plug 'conductor terminal may be inserted of my invention provides new and improved elecaccomplishes at least the principal object of my invention. On the other hand, it also will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the'illusprising: a body portion having a recess for retrated embodiments of my invention may be variously changed and modiiled, or features thereof, singly or collectively, embodied in other combinations than thosev illustrated, without departing from the spirit of my invention, or sacriicing all of the advantages thereof, and that accordingly, the disclosure herein is illustrative' only, and my invention is not limited thereto. It is also tobe understood that the term, conductor terminal, includes not only a plug .conductor terminal or separate terminal secured to a conductor', but. also the bare end of a conductorwire or deformation thereof.

I claim:

1. Receptacle means for receiving and holdin-gV a plug conductor terminal of the snap type, comceiving a plug conductor terminal; means for biasing a plug conductor terminal against a wall of said recess, comprising detent means and resilient means for urging said detent means to operative position; spaced members; said detent,V means, when moved to operative position, having one end guided by one of said spaced members, and the other end terminating short of the other of said members; and washer means provided with an -aperture for guiding said other end of said detent means and being cooperable with said other of said members to hold said biasing means in assembled relation with saidfbody.

2. Receptacle means, comprising:` a pair of walls connected in spaced relation; at least one being apertured, and having an angular portion extending in a direction away from said walls, said portion being apertured for receiving a conductor terminal; and biasing means, comprising a detent member having a portion extending through the aperture in said`.one wall for cooperation with a conductor terminal disposed in the aperture in said angular portion, said detent member having also a shank integral with said detent portion and an abutment formed on said shank and engageable with said one wall, for

limiting the extent of said detent portion through the aperture in said one wall, said biasing means further comprising a spring.' disposed on the shankl of said detent member and interposed between the other ofsaid spaced walls and said detent member abutment, for urging said detent` member to operative position. A

3. Receptacle means, comprising: a body, formed of asingle strip of sheet-metal bent to generally S-shape, the part of said body connecting one of the extremity portions and the intermediate portion being apertured to receive a conductor terminal and said one extremity portion being curved-to form a continuation of at least a part of the marginal outline of said aperture, soV as to-provide abearing surface forthe. conductor terminal, and the intermediate portion oi said body having also an aperture disposed transverse',- ly'with respect to the aperture in said connecting part; and biasing means, comprising adetent member working through the aperture in said intermediate portion, and a spring bearing against the other extremity portion of .said body, and constructed and arranged to urge said detent member to bear against a conductor terminal in the aperture inC said connecting portion, and to 4. Receptacle means, comprising: a pair of spaced-apart walls, connected so as to be resil- -iently movable with 'respect to each other, at 5 least one being apertured and having an angular portion extending inv a direction away from said walls, said portion being apertured for receiving a, conductor terminal; detent means interposed between said spaced-apart walls, having one end working through the aperture in said one wall for cooperation with a conductor terminal disposedA in the aperture in said angular vportion,.and an r abutment engageable with said one wall to limit `the extent of s aid one end of said detent meansl 15 through the aperture in said one wall, said detent means being of a length greater than the space between said walls, so that said walls-must be sprung apart to provide for assembly or disassembly of said detent means; and springvmeans, 20 constructed and arranged to urge saiddetent means abutment to engagementwith said one wall.- y 5. Receptacle means, comprising: a pair of spaced-apart walls, connected so as to be resil- 25 iently movable with respect to each other, and each being apertured, at least one wall having an angular portion extending in a Vdirection away from said walls, said portion being apertured for receiving a conductor terminan' detent means, interposed between said spaced-'apart walls, and having its ends working' through the apertures in respective walls, one end being in position to cooperate with a conductor terminal disposed in the aperture-in said angular portion, said de- 35 tent means having Valso an abutment adjacent said one end engageable with said one wall to limit the extent of the adjacent end of said detent means thrcugh the aperture in said one wall, said detent means being of such a length that '40 said walls must be sprung apart toprovide for assembly or disassembly of said detent member;

.and spring means, constructed and arranged'to urge said detent means abutment to engagement with Said one wall. l

` 6. Receptacle means, comprising a body, hav- Aing a portion provided with an aperture for reposed between saidfspaced members, and com- 'prising a head, a shank, and an abutment'formed intermediate said head and said shank, `said head being slidablyguided by the marginal surface of the aperture in one of said members for move, ment toward and away from the aperture insaid portion, said abutment engaging said onel member to limit movement of said head'toward saidconductor receiving aperture, and the extremity of w said shank being slidably movable through the aperture in the other of vsaid members; said detent means being of a' greater overall length than the spacing between said members, so that said resilient member mustbe spread apart from the o5 other member .to 'provide for insertion of the head andrshank of said detent means to position within the apertures of respective members; and spring means, disposed about said shank,- and interposed between said abutment and said w other member, said spring means urgingsaid abutment to engagement with one'member.

7. Receptacle means, comprising.\ a body, having a portion provided with an aperture for receiving a conductor terminaLsaid body also havu4 ing spaced members formed with apertures generally in axial alignment; detent means, interposed between said spaced membersyand comprising a head, a shank, and an abutment formed intermediate saidhead and said shank, said h d being slidably guided by the marginal surf e of the aperture in one of said members for mo ement toward and away from the aperture in id portion, said abutment engaging said one member to limit movement of said head toward said aperture, and the extremity of said shank stopping short of the other of said members; a washer, having an aperture aligned with the aperture in said other member, said washer aper ture being adapted to slidably pass the extremity of Vsaid shank; and spring means, disposed about said` shank, and interposedbetween said abutment and said washer, said spring means urging said abutment to engagement with said one member.

8. Receptacle means, comprising: a body, formed of a single strip of sheet-metal bent to generally S-shape, providing end walls and an intermediate wall arranged in generally parallel relation, and a pair of walls angularly disposed with respect to and connecting said end and intermediate walls; one of said connecting walls being apertured to receive a conductor terminal,

the adjacent end wall having a curved portion forming a continuation surface of said aperture;

'said intermediate wall being apertured, and the other of said end walls providing tab means adapted to secure said body to a support; a detent member,l having one end working through the aperture in said intermediate wall; and resilient means, constructed and arranged to urge said one end of said detent member in a direction toward the aperture in said one connecting wall, to yieldably press a conductor terminal disposed in this aperture against said continuation surface. v

9. Receptacle means, comprising: a body constructed of sheet material,'having a vertical portion -provided'with an aperture for receiving a conductor terminal, said body having also spaced l -HARRY A. DOUGLAS. 

